Knocked Down But Not Out?
Feb 7th, 2015 by 'holic
As days go this was one to forget. The defend in depth tactic that brought a welcome victory at Manchester City was again the preferred option. I saw many calling for it beforehand so to be critical of that approach with the benefit of hindsight is perhaps unwise. Rope-a-dope works so often for us, but today we looked a little punchdrunk.
This defeat owed less to tactics than it did our overall quality on the day. Tottenham identified the right-back area as a soft spot early on. Let me say straight away that Hector Bellerin is probably the future right back of choice for club and country, but his derby debut shows he has a bit more to learn yet.
Ahead of him the recalled Danny Welbeck had a busy 77 minutes, including having a huge hand in us taking the lead when he left Rose for dead before crossing to Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman’s miscue was finished on the volley by Mesut Ozil.
We can thank David Ospina that we reached half-time with that advantage intact. By far the busier of the two goalkeepers he produced a string of fine saves to justify his current status as Arsenal’s number one.
Arsenal’s problem stemmed from a misfiring attacking midfield. Francis Coquelin again put in a huge shift in front of the back four, but those around and ahead of him were often wasteful with their distribution or simply caught in possession by a Tottenham side who were quick to deny us space throughout.
The equaliser came when Aaron Ramsey was caught ball-watching and Kane got away from him to net at the far post. Again Ospina came to our rescue a couple of times as the hosts sought a winner. Gradually though we started asking questions at the other end. Lloris had to be at his best to deny Welbeck, and then saved Laurent Koscielny’s free header.
The introduction of Tomas Rosicky for the strangely subdued Santi Cazorla looked to have given us more of a threat but we were undone when Benteleb was allowed time and space to pick out Harry Kane with a cross from our right flank. Tottenham’s man of the moment finished well.
This is never a good fixture to lose, and one wonders how significant the lost points will prove at the season’s end. Not for the first time this season a promising run of form has come to rather a tame end. Leicester at home on Tuesday now has added significance. It’s bounce back time again.
Even when one has had as many good days at Tottenham as I have down the years, days like today don’t hurt any less.
134 Responses to “Knocked Down But Not Out?”
Till the next match…~!
Up The Arse!
😀
That’s a fine summary, ‘Holic. And the quick turnaround should be a lesson to the lads — it’s over, and focus fully on Tuesday vs. Leicester.
Games are won or lost in midfield. Apart from Coq, who did what he does best — ball stopping — fairly well, the rest basically were misfiring and at fault for not working the ball. You can have an overall possession deficit (as vs. Man City), but it’s the moments when you do gain the ball where you have to have small intervals of “take the pressure off” possession to make the rope a dope work.
Errrr.. Go Villa!!!
🙂
NBN, from previous drinks, I was not at all questioning Ozil’s ability or his finishing or even his work rate, I have been one of his biggest fans even before he joined us, but that in certain situations he is not the right player to play a compact counter-attacking game in PL where to be able to make that pass he would need to hold off challenges somewhere deep inside his half or on the center line. We shouldn’t have to rely on him for every single variation of games and situations. We used to do that with Cesc, and made us predictable at the end.
If Rambo were having a super game and releasing him early enough then he would have had a better impact, and if Giroud didn’t have to drop deep, of course. But as a team we should be flexible and versatile enough to realize when a game is not suitable for a certain player and use alternatives.
Sad turn of events really but not the end of the season. We had an opportunity to make a statement today but lacked the hunger and application to do so. As Joe said @143 in the previous drinks, they wanted it more.
For those lambasting Ozil, I wonder what game they watched. Santi was primarily at fault for our lapses in attacking midfield. Rambo didn’t exactly cover himself in glory while Giroud seemed disconcerted. As far as I’m concerned, AW can only be faulted for not replacing Santi with Tomas earlier.
Thank God the next game is on Tuesday, there is an immediate opportunity to make amends.
Anyone fancy a cup double this season? I know I do.
COYG
Listened to the match on 5Live and it wasn’t any the less disappointing. Holic describes the match that I heard.
Bugger.
A point behind the Tinies with only 54 left to play for this season. I can imagine worse positions. Disappointing. Pick yourselves up and go for it for the rest of the season; I’m sure the team will.
COYG
Shit. There’s only 42 points left to play for this season. It really is a crisis.
If only we still had that Ramsey guy from last season…
Oh..
Horrid horrid horrid… villa lost too 🙁
Only consolation is Madrid lost 4-0! Thats one to remember!
Solid @5: No one has actually lambasted Ozil here. Let us not please exaggerate. But if you are saying that his game was perfectly flawless and there was no scope for improvement, then I disagree. Everyone could have done better today, including Santi and Ozil, but this particular aspect of his game — to keep possession under high pressure and double-marking — does need to get better if he is to make the impact in PL his talent deserves. In his career he should aspire to become a player of a level higher than Santi or TR7, both of whom are excellent players, but someone who defines an era like Bergkamp or Zidane…that is what his talent deserves.
Pretty much rubbish results elsewhere, with Saints claiming all three points in stoppage and City with late one to draw at home with Hull. Have been saying it for a while with City — if you only manage a draw against Hull, could be look out below.
Need a result from the Toffees.
Disconcerted is one way of putting it, Solid. Disinterested is another.
Not at all crisis or time to panic. We tried a tactic that worked well at City but Spurs were well prepared.
It’s ‘Pool vs. Spurs midweek and that would give us opportunity to make up points relative to surrounding opposition…..IF we revert to now our “Plan A” and win our game. Btw Alexis is back. I’m already looking forward to midweek round.
From memory one stand out, big away game is Utd. I expect a decent return from balance of games.
Chin up gooners…..
Well said Soweto.
Shit performance.
We made a decent spurs side look like world beaters.
Fucking pathetic.
@Soweto, we have 11 away games left compared to Spurs 13, and if we do our home games well — two tricky ones, Chelsea and ‘Pool, Everton is rather inconsistent this season — then I think we should see ourselves above them easily.
However the top four is likely to be very tight until the end, with Southampton simply refusing to give in. They don’t have Europe or FA cup either, and if their first 11-13 players all stay fit they will keep pressure on us and United.
I don’t think even #2 is beyond us at this stage, and given how City is faring in YaYa’s absence.
I though wenger made a mistake with the Rosiky substitution
he should have sent in Gabriel or Flamini instead for Ramsey to protect the lead first..then adjust his offense
Rosicky shoulda been in the pitch from the start.
In my view AW – got that dead wrong.
And we give up another lead. Along the way Making a good but not exceptional Kane look like fucking Ronaldo. Ridiculous.
Sitting back that deep and letting them come at us like that and giving away all that possession was a huge risk. And it blew up in AW’s face.
Thoroughly Disgusted.
Dr F,
I don’t exaggerate.
Ozil didn’t have a perfect game but he sure was a damn sight better than most others in the red and white. He is in fact unique in that he feeds off the skill and energy levels of his colleagues. Said team mates didn’t root up any trees and neither did he.
Ozil may not be on the Bergkamp or Zizou level but he is the closest we’ve got to that and I really can’t remember DB10 being adept at man marking or pressing. Having said that however, I do agree that he could do with adding those traits to his game.
As for aspiring to be of a higher level than TR& and Santi, he already is
The team as a whole let spuds play and showed them too much respect. We defended well in patches but were caught napping at the most crucial of times.
Cynic@12- There are MANY words to describe Girouds play today and disinterested is one of the more civil.
Solid @ 19: I think the problem is Ozil “feeds off the skill and energy levels of his colleagues” . It is a strength but can also be a weakness at times when a stronger on-the-ball leadership quality is needed. We all get that it is not his game, he is what I would like to call can be a meta-footballer who facilitates so much in others’ games, but sometimes it is simply a matter of holding down a few challenges, not lose possession and then make the pass when the one-touch is not coming off.
He is technically at a higher level than TR7 — but not that higher, watch a TR7 collection of goals and assists over the years from Dortmund to us, his style is less sophisticated and more direct but that is fantastic right foot — but in terms of impact in winning and controlling matches for us he has to go a bit to match Rosicky’s ( albeit injury-interruped ) contribution until now.
None of these are “lambasting” Ozil, which is what I thought you were exaggerating at (the severity of that verb), but honest and fair criticism. I have been an Ozil fan even before he joined Madrid.
Homer @ 18: This was a TR7 game written all over it. As I said in the past set of drinks: a perfect combination of aggression, tempo and creativity.
ospina lolkked good tho how he didnt even get a sniff of that 2d goal is baffling.
Any slagging off Le Coq, well i agree with others: he was magnificent today. Broke up play. Tidy passing. Kept it simple. It wasnt DM that was the problem today. It was constantly giving up the ball and inability to keep any sort of posession. That was as much down to sloppy, ponderous play as to spurs pressing. And weve been pressed harder by better teams and not been on the losing end like this. So credit to spurs for being dead average.
I hate losing this fixture. Its shocking that this term Arsenal have just one 1 from a possible 6 agaisnt spurs. Thats really poor.
No need to panic yet but this loss is more significant than folks are willling to admit concerning league placement.
Cheers Dr F.
“Meta-footballer”. Thats brilliant coinage. Well done!
I will feel better if everton take the points from those dirty luverpudlianns. Spoiling stevieMe’s last derby would be ace.
Homer @ 22 — We have the occasional habit of playing sheepishly, comfortable in our minds that it will work out in the end. The boundary between confidence and complacency can be a thin one.
Rambo was my biggest disappointment today. He knows what this match means, and him doing his basics right was crucial today.
Homer @ 23: You and I seem to share a healthy dislike to Steve G and his messiah complex of a club. 🙂
Dr F,
I can understand and appreciate honest and fair criticism. If that was your intention, then kudos to you. What I can’t quite stand is the ‘He’s nicking a living’ mindset.
You correctly stated that the on-the-ball leadership that most World class players have isn’t his style. He is much more subtle than a Yaya Toure for example.
He cannot completely change his game but has made an effort to modify and improve it. Ozil has increased his upper body strength and as a result is stronger in the tackles/challenges, he rarely loses possession and we all know he has a great eye for a pass.
Ozil will eventually become the complete fantasy footballer we all desire but he is presently quite good and far better than we give him credit for.
Yeah and I kinda liked “Meta-Footballer” myself.
Right on Dr F!
Had a sketchy view of the game but Pangloss is right in taking a broader view. Thus Spurs side is better organised and more resilient than its predecessors but they are usually several points clear of us at this stage of the season and it us telling that they did not have one injury to anyone in their squad for this game . We had an injury to the best player in our team, a player who would possibly have made a major difference. Ospina does look the real deal and it may be time to utilise the bigger squad and rest Rambo and BFG. It’s a battle lost not the war but it is the most annoying and painful one to lose
TTG @ 29: I am not worried about Spurs, and you have so succinctly stated the reasons for. But the top 4 would be a harder fight this year with ManU and Saints neither having European nights to worry about.
We have a big squad and as you have stated, let us keep them all fit and let us utilize them.
Great write up Holic – we saw the same game.
Fruitless to dig out individual tonight. The other lot quite simply wanted it more, almost to a man. We must learn from that.
As for the tactics, we’ve all shouted for precisely this set up in tough away games, myself included. Sitting deep and looking to counter doesn’t guarantee points, and today demonstrated that it feels fucking shit when you lose with that set up, because it’s as if you didn’t really give it a go.
Disinclined to draw too many conclusions from today: derby games are always cup finals and can yield strange results. Imperative we win in midweek – get ourselves up and running quick and the fixtures are in our favour. We should still be fine.
COYG
Cheers H! Massive props for putting up a post on a fucking painful day like this. Hate saying it, I mean really hate saying it, but those cunts wanted it more than us today, and so – shit happened.
Bit harsh on the HFB I think Cynic. He got poor service and little protection from a referee who makes Anthony Taylor look competent.
N7 @ 31: Great point that if the “attacking” part of the counter-attacking doesn’t work a bad result feels harder to take.
Football at this level has become so tight, even a very minor off day can mean loss of three points. Supposedly the best counter-attacking side in PL came here and conceded five goals.
Good intentions….Bad ideas.
Thanks Esso, and all.
Shit day.
Well-tempered post, as ever, ‘Holic, especially in the circumstances. There is only one thing worse than losing an NLD at their place, and that is losing one at home.
Of those having fingers pointed at them, Ramsey has been off the boil for some games. AW played him through a similar patch before, and it came good, so hope Aaron is red hot at the pointy end of the season. Santi wasn’t the Santi of the past few games. Perhaps he is like those science fiction characters who feed off the energy of someone else; perhaps Santi secretly feeds off Alexis, and without the Chilean there, the Spaniard could only be a pale, starved imitation of himself. With the midfield misfiring, Giroud didn’t get much by way of service and had to drop deeper and deeper where he is less and less effective as the fulcrum of attacks that the midfielders can play off. It is all connected. And Kane’s second goal was a very good header, though I would have been happier if there had been more of a challenge on him when he went for it. Kos was too far away and Nacho, though closer, on the wrong side.
Dr F@4: Points taken.
As I said, IF we can contain Kane… We couldn’t.
Dumb selection of Danny first up after injury. Yes he skinned Rose once or twice, but otherwise his ball control was suspect, he can’t score and Rose had no problems getting past him down the left. Theo was badly needed cutting through the centre.
But an excellent summary, ‘holic. Basically we weren’t at the races, and I put that down to playing a kind of game which simply doesn’t utilise our strengths. And that, for me, explains Santi’s poor showing and Özilla’s relatively poor showing.
Actually, and perhaps surprisingly to some, I was happy with the latter today. He is at least answering one of my major complaints about him last year, his lack of goals. He’s positioning himself further upfield, which may detract from his ability to defend, but as you know I don’t care much for wingers who defend and Özil never has anyway.
Strong play from Le Coq again, but he did give away a dumb free within Eriksen’s range, the kind of thing I don’t like about his play. Fortunately Eriksen shot over.
One to forget, and I hope we don’t try these tactics again in a hurry. Back to 6th, but all of our upcoming games look winnable, so no panic.
Öskar
Theo, Theo, Theo….hardly any touches; lackadaisical (along with others to be fair) to give Bentaleb all that space for the cross to Kane; and when sent through for one on one with Loris on a beautiful pass from Rosicky at 1-2, can’t control it. It just seems that, for all of the attributes that would make Theo a great late game super sub to stretch defenses, if he’s not in the game from the off, he just doesn’t get in the match to have an impact, and often detracts.
At least Pool dropped two points. Here’s hoping they do the three points on Tuesday at Anfield.
Eriksen and Kane have made the Spuds a dangerous side and quite capable of winning against anyone. We better had make the most of our next six games – Leicester, Palace, Everton, QPR, Hammers, Newcastle (18 points for the taking there) – because we’re facing serious opposition for 3rd or 4th in Spuds and Saints, not to mention Manure who just won’t go away.
We have more experience winning late season games so others may yet falter, but we shouldn’t underestimate any of them. All season it’s been looking a matter of time before we established ourselves in the top 4, but it’s still a case of two steps forward, one step back.
Öskar
You’re blaming Theo, BJ? Who only got on after 78 mins? And I suppose Danny didn’t keep giving the ball away or allow Rose free rein down our right flank for the 77 mins prior?
Give me strength!
Öskar
Esso – I thought Giroud just didn’t fancy it but as you and others have said, not many of our lot did.
I found myself totally agreeing with Wenger today. I was out at a game after ours and was asked how we got on. My reply was that we were rubbish (or words to that effect) and the referee matched our display. Stone me if the manager didn’t say the same thing.
Oskar @ 40 – agreed.
We just didn’t click at all today and I thought we were a bit shapeless. A few times in the first half Bellerin was being dragged inside and went AWOL, I thought Ramsey was pretty awful and played too far forward (but I usually do) Ozil and Welbeck did one thing right each in the game and it resulted in a goal.
I’ll give Santi Cazorla a break as he’s been immense and you can’t do it every game. I thought Coq was left to cope on his own too often.
Interesting to see how Ospina coped with a game where he was under pressure. He made some good stops but I don’t like his habit of pushing the ball back into play, and he lost his head briefly with one mad charge to punch that was nowhere.
I thought Monreal was our best player though and his booking was a joke.
BJ … Theo “gave Benteleb all that space for the cross to Kane” because he was marking Eriksen from the throw-in. Most would consider Eriksen the bigger threat, especially as he was much closer to goal. Or would you have left him free?
Öskar
Thanks for the summary H. I was at a conference and ‘watched’ the second half on Blogs’ Liveblog during a lecture on Neolithic settlements 🙂 so I only have a sketchy idea of what happened but it didn’t sound like enough fellas turned up.
Oh dear. They should have brought their flint axes.
Onward.
OTD – agree. Eriksen is their main man. I was actually not impresee at all with kane. He shoots alot. Took what, 10 or 12 shots? The forst was a slop corner on which Rambo went missing. Good header tho. That fuck.
The swampys had way too much joy down our right side in general. Bellerin did well considering how much pressure he faced. Welz was too narrow much of the game.
Tho theo has a fine goal record against spurs, I think the game was lost in midfield. Poor passing. And arsenal was sitting far too deep.
It was said above, but weve more quality there and refused to use it. Hard to agree with that approach.
I dont think Pocc out tactic’ed AW, i think AW just bottled it.
Everyone was clearly instructed to sit way back. And I agree that OG looked off the boil.
Im still steaming. Arsenal just didnt look up for it. Lack of focus and passion and energy in this fixture is inexcusable. Fire the lot of ’em!!
Pangloss @ 7
LOL!
If only we had previous experience of overhauling that lot when they sit a few points ahead of us in the table.
Kane, 22 goals in 34 games. Not impressed, Homer? Otherwise I’m with you.
Öskar
How annoying to watch Jonathan Pearce’s hysterical and wildly OTT commentary on MOTD. Not content with having three ex Tottenham players as analysts they employ the embarrassing Pearce , the self- elected Oresident of the Harry Kane fan club.
How I hate looking into the abyss which is the mass of gibbering Totts. They wanted it more which is an insult to every Arsenal fan. And I’m even less impressed with Ramsey’s performance after studying their first goal
Well done, Holic.
Horrible game to write up. They just seemed to want it more than we did. One of those days when we were found physically wanting.
Heh ! Bath,
At least your lecture on Neolithic settlements was appropriate to today’s venue.
howdy ‘hol an all
.
fuck this for a carry on
often wonder to meself
do other fans
get walloped about
wi stress like us
.
merciful hour
.
just
fuckin arsenal
.
(if anyone can lend-a-liver i’d like a pint o porter)
maybe i fuckin seek out despair
fucksake i watch bbc4
bloody genesis last night
bloody queen tonight
paul gambabloodycini
slug trailing magnolia opinion
hither an yon
.
yup
despair
.
.
deary me
They shouldn’t allow yanks on the Beeb, cba, it’s against nature.
Öskar
Naked camping at Skara Brae in winter would beat 2 hours at WHL, eh Trev?
Öskar
balls
just missed ye trev
would love yer professional advice
regarding a clunky clicks in clicks out neck
least of me worries
but i’ve been stupid not to ask yer advice before
one less problem to juggle
Quality write up ‘Holic, given the circumstances.
Post match I attended a joint 40th birthday party of a couple who are both Totts. I put on record it was of my own volition, for they are friends. And it wasn’t exactly fantastic, but they deserve their bragging rights today.
There will be worse days than this. And better ones too.
Onwards to Tuesday. So have a good evening Holics, wherever you may be. Sometimes copious quantities of Gin and the David Bowie back catalogue are called for. Chin chin.
aaah
howdy oskar
hope yer well
despite a dirty hoor of a day
goonerdom
as we all know
is a snickers not a sprint
Good day to U2, cba, and your liver. May the latter play the game and keep you in it as long as you deserve. A Green Spot and Milk of Magnesia on the bar for you sir.
Öskar
Evening cba, and snowy.
…and g’night.
56 Top Man
57 Top Man Top Host
aww fuck
if ever there was
a justifiable
non prosecutable
reason to run tooled up
through the totp studio
reinstating decency
dollar doin the beatles
mike read introducing
holy fuck
anti bbc4 campaign afoot?
just wonderin
whats so good about
bbc 1 2 & 3. 😉
Oskar!!
Indeed. Not impressed. How many Shots does that dirty fuck take to put one in? Too many. Looked like an MLS set up. To hell with him and his old man hair. And btw – kane, pat riley called and wants his coif back, you shyte.
Im still fooking hacked off at how badly arsenal played. Make no mistake: this is a very ordinary side we are looking at. Its disgusting.
Kane averages 3 shots per goal, Homer. In comparison Messi averages 4.7 shots per goal, Ronaldo 6.1, Diego Costa 3.1, Alexis 3.2 etc etc. I guess all of them should be dropped!
You’re a hard man to please.
Öskar
Oskar @ 62 — I am with Homer on this. With a name like that and a hairdo to match there is only one industry where he should be shooting and scoring in front of a glassy-eyed crowd of repressed nincompoops. 🙂
Cynic – that’s all fair comment.
Kane does look a player, but all of his impressive stats need to be treated with a little caution, given that a number of his goals were scored on Thursday nights against sides packed with Ukrainian car mechanics who play a little football on the side.
He did the biz yesterday, but time will tell whether he’s a top quality talent or a candle-faced wankbag on a little bit of a hot streak. Hopefully it’ll prove to be the latter.
Personally, I had Mason as their MoTM, although he was aided in seemingly being unable to buy a yellow card from the extremely obliging ref. He was everywhere and really drove them on. The horrible little shit. Mason also obnoxious.
COYG
I’ll echo those who’ve mentioned being pleased Leicester is so close. Can’t criticise the tactics but many of the performances were poor. Not the game for it.
Do not want to dwell- Next, please…
Thank f**k N7 GOONER,at last somebody puts their finger on it..all this we lost the midfield shite…….ryan mason was allowed to run around kicking anything that moved.
I calculated he should have been off the pitch well before the 60 minute mark.
I also think the ref was just itching to send one of ours off..5 yellows..wtf.
Still the spunks having their best season in about a decade and they still cant shake us!!!!!
Come on you red machine…..up the Arsenal!!!!!
Morning all, No gloating from me. I think the game was won, and lost, in midfield. I looked at Arsenals and saw so much talent, proper footballers, that it scared the life out of me. For Spurs, Mason and Benteleb offer masses of graft but not much in terms of obvious creativity. It was vital that they denied you time on the ball and that’s what they did, to great effect. As for Harry Kane, I’m with Oskar. He has surprised us all this season and I’ve seen a few dozen false dawns at the Lane but I have a feeling he could be the real deal.
Cheers Dave.
Enjoy the result. We’ll see you next year.
Never happy when arsenal lose, let alone to that lot, but on this occasion it does seem harsh to be too disapointed with the quality and style of our play even though the result did not go our way.
As a team, I felt we did all the basic things very well as a team unit, the same basic football things that have been missing in previous seasons.
We were disciplined and organised in defence. Danny was great on the break and it was a shame that Others were not on their games to capitalise on the remaining chances we had.
We scored first in an away match and defended our lead well as a team for most of the remainder of the match.
Ozils goal was sheer class and I couldnt care less if he never defends. He is not in the team to defend.
Ospina was great, even when he came out and missed the ball at least he clattered the opposing forward..and our backs knew he was there.
Le coq is so consistently solid and never shirks his duties and He doesnt go walkabout which is reassuring for the team given this key role in our counter attacking team.
With our current quality of options up front we will score plenty of goals on our good days, but unfortuantley today was not one if them.
I like this arsenal team with a counter attacking flair mixed with a heathy balance of defensive steel and discipline.
The Wins will come while ever we continue with this style.
Cheers Dave. Not so sure about Bruce Forsyth though. Just been described on Arseblog as this season’s ‘Michael Rickets’. Reserving judgement on him for now.
Well in, Aussie and congrats to Dave – enjoy this well earned win and I hope its your last between now and May.
I don’t like Sundays (tell me why)
I don’t like Mondays (tell me why)
I don’t like Tuesdays
And Wednesdays, Thursdays
And Fridays too
And even Sat’days poo
Fucking Tottenham.
Esso, he does look like Brucie now you mention it. N7 Gooner, cheers. Surely you want Spurs to beat Chelsea at Wembley…
Heh @ Dave. That’s a hotly debated question.
It will be funnier if Chelsea, with their preposterous sense of entitlement, lose a cup final. But then it will be much, much worse if your mob, with their commemorative DVDs and trophy drought, win.
My plan is to simply ignore the winners and focus all my attention on whichever side loses.
All of that said, I find it hard to get too upset about any event that makes Mourinho look like a twat….
Tell me why I don’t like Saturdays, or at least not early Saturday KOs…
Over this season and the previous two we have had 11 early Saturday games in the league. Nine of those 11 have been away. The record does not make good reading:
P11 W5 D0 L6 GF19 GA26
The wins were over Fulham, Crystal Palace, WBA, Spurs and Wigan; the defeats: Spurs, Chelsea (2), Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool.
Early Saturday kick offs flatten the whole weekend, win or lose.
Win and you still have nothing to look forward to, lose and you have nothing to look forward to plus misery of losing.
Sunday 4pm please in future, if we’re on telly.
God knows what will happen in the new tv deal if they spread games out to Friday nights
I’m old school, Cynic. 3pm Saturday afternoon is the proper time for a kick-off.
Cynic, N7. – covered it all really.
Dave –
your man Mason can thank the ref today but, no gripes, you generally were far more at it than we were and you, and we, got what we deserved.
Ouch, that smarts !
Indeed Dave, N7 – (rubs hands at chance of revenge)
one wonders what the shops will be full of should Tottenham actually win a trophy.
This is, after all, the club that issued a commemorative watch for LOSING to Real Madrid !!!
Saturday 3pm ?
When did that last happen at home ?
I honestly can’t remember – and I was there !
Burnley, Nov 1, Trev. Short-term memory is first to go. And it only gets worse….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSHl2CI3ih4
Ned, what was Nov 1st …… ?
😉
Cynic – 🙂
Trev, I forget….
Dave, welcome and congratulations. You deserved it fair and square.
Well done Dave your lads deserved it.
Now Holics chins up there are big games to win, cups to take and the Top Four trophy must be ours. We are even with a chance of 2nd if we finish as we did last season, we have one tough away game and one nasty home game. We should gave a very good run- in. We just need freedom from injuries.
Dave I said something good about your club’s performance in the last drinks. No thank you, I don’t want to say it again. 🙁
On another front, thank you BBC for asking the question.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-30699020
Nigel Pearson sacked.
He’ll be choked..
Nice report Sir. Not a lot to add to what has already been said. Very poor from start to finish with very few positives. It hurts when you see such a lacklustre performance. We were second best virtually all over the pitch. The lack of a true leader was again very evident.
For those of you who still need cheering up click on the link below. It made me laugh.
http://youtu.be/9t_8pfbCH-4
MW@91: A leader like CJ?
N7 @65: “A number of his goals were scored on Thursday nights against sides packed with Ukrainian car mechanics who play a little football on the side. He did the biz yesterday, but time will tell whether he’s a top quality talent or a candle-faced wankbag on a little bit of a hot streak. Hopefully it’ll prove to be the latter.” 😀 Quite so!
As bad as it hurts to lose to the spuds, we have been in great form and this doesn’t necessarily end that. It’s hard not to think what might have been with Sanchez and/or the Ox in the squad. But those second-guessing Le Boss with sagacious hindsight ideas like “should’ve started Rosicky” or “should’ve brought on Gabriel or Flamini earlier,” c’mon. That is just typical disappointing derby day revisionist nonsense. You can play that game after any disappointing result, but if we had held on with the players we had, we’d all be crowing about Wenger’s brilliant selection. Such is football. We set up sensibly and didn’t even have our worst game. Not good enough, to be sure. But not awful. When they scored their first, the crowd came alive and the derby-craziness kicked in, and unfortunately we didn’t have the poise to cope with it on the day. Cest la vie.
We’re still in good form overall and with the likes of Alexis, Chamberlain and Wilshere nearing returns, we should hopefully be back on the horse and back above the spuds where we belong before very much longer. Win the next one.
Nigel Pearson not sacked.
It’s all go.
Or not.
Sour grapes seems to be le plat du jour today, all the anti-Kane virulence a little surprising, imo. Thanks to N7 for reminding me of Mason’s contribution, he was a worry all day and came close to emulating Bentley’s long distance volley goal from a few year’s back. I’d still have to give Kane the motm award though, cos there’s nothing like scoring goals to win matches.
And unlike those who only know-it-all after the event I did draw attention to the threat in the previous drinks round “If we can contain Kane, by double-teaming him for example…’ … http://goonerholic.com/2015/02/lets-get-it-on/#comment-546782
But we didn’t double-team him, not for his first goal anyway. In fact he was all alone on their left when the cross came over, with our far post defender, everyone’s favourite Coquelin, deciding to move off the goal-line leaving an inviting gap for the tap-in. Rubbish defending. Not Le Coq’s finest moment, and very nearly compounded soon after when he fouled Eriksen to give that excellent free kick merchant a shot from well within range. Fortunately not accepted.
Time to rest the lad and see whether Gabriel can prove to be our angel. Leicester being an ideal introduction for him.
Öskar
OTD
It wasn’t Coquelin’s fault.There was a lot more rubbish defending than that evident. Kane should have been picked up by Ramsey and Gabriel isn’t a replacement for Coquelin. In fact nobody in the current side is
Oskar @95. Agreed.
Leicester is indeed an ideal opportunity to give Gabriel his debut and Kos a rest.
Also an excellent opportunity for the team to get back on track.
Oskar, the first goal was not Coq’s fault but a lapse of concentration by Rambo who was supposed to be marking Kane. Rambo was ball watching and unaware of Kane’s position behind him. He was also slow to react to Ospina’s somewhat feeble punch.
Come on guys, Le Coq moved off the line leaving a big gap for anyone who might be on the spuds’ left. A more experienced defender would have stayed in position till the ball was cleared out of the area.
I’m not saying the kid isn’t very promising and his influence hasn’t been notable since his return from loan, just that he still has plenty to learn. As for Rambo he’s just not a natural defender and I doubt he ever will be. But he does have footballing instincts which make him very unpredictable for opponents, and always a threat to them.
Öskar
Ping!
WD Impec, but a beautiful assist though I say it myself! 😀
Öskar
You blame Coq for the first goal Oskar, really?
Watch the goal once again. Now tell me wtf is Ramsey doing?
Coquelin along Monreal and Ospina was our best player yesterday. He made 9 tackles, was very disciplined and did a really good job in midfield considering he was left on his own mainly because midfield partner wanted to join the attack wherever he had a chance, lost the possesion countless times on our side of the pitch, was to slow to cover runners and I really struggle to remember even one duel that he won.
He wasn’t to blame for Kane getting that close unmarked, Lurky, but he was for leaving his post and allowing enough space for Kane to score. Are you guys saying he was right to leave that hole when the ball was flashing across the goal??
Öskar
Sorry, I just really don’t see how Coquelin can be blamed for the first goal.
Being on the post never guarantees that a goal will be saved as the ball could still hit the defender on the post and find itself in the back of the net. Nevertheless, it increases the chance of a goal being stopped but it’s not an absolute that a goal will be saved. Thus, Coquelin cannot be blamed for that.
If Kane wasn’t left unmarked, then he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to take the shot in the first place.
I agree with most of what Lurky @ 102 said. In my opinion, Coq and Nacho did well yesterday.
Kane would also have found it more difficult to score had he been double-teamed at all times as he was their most dangerous threat in his current form, but that wasn’t done either. And I suppose you were also okay with Coquelin fouling Eriksen within range?
Sorry if you can’t bear to hear criticism of your favourites, but get real.
Öskar
A very strange penalty shoot-out in ANC final. And this time, finally, Ivory Coast not on the receiving end. 9-8 in their favor with all 11 taking shots, and after the first two Ghana was up 2-0. 🙂
Happy for Kolo, YaYa, and Gervinho. This generation of Ivory Coast players deserved one.
Oskar — I am sensing a thematic continuity here. Last season it was Ozil and this season it would be Coquelin who would be the lightening rod of your curmudgeonly contrarianism. 🙂
Such diversity of opinions is always welcome. Even when they are further spiced by praises for a Spuds striker.
Oskar,
I’m more than happy to leave the “it was his fault / oh no it was his fault” arguments to others.
What mystifies me a bit is the need for your “everyone’s favourite Coquelin” remark, as though we are all stupid for being impressed by what he has done, and he has shamed himself by possibly making a mistake.
In my opinion only, he has transformed our defence of late. That’s why we hadn’t conceded a Premier League goal since 1st January up until yesterday. Against Man City away he was superb, pre-empting any “can’t do it in big games” talk.
He had one and a half month’s warm up at Charlton Athletic before stepping into our midfield where he has done an almost faultless job.
“Time to rest the lad” in favour of Gabriel. Coquelin has played a handful of games with plenty of rest in between times.
Drop him for a newly acquired centre back to play in midfield ?
Well, I’ll be there on Tuesday a d I hope Coquelin will too.
Ramsey ? Very out of form at the moment. Needs to simplify and speed up his game. And when the defence needs help he should give it, especially as he is neither winger nor striker.
As you say though, he does not have much defensive instinct. I have supported him loud and often but, at the moment, he is very fortunate to be finding himself on the teamsheet considering the form that Tomas Rosicky has been in – and he hasn’t exactly been run into the ground yet either.
Just read your @106 now, Oskar.
That one is not really worthy of you.
Ned @92.
Lol.
Özil is playing well this year, Dr F, perhaps he was listening. 😀 A much better attitude and getting himself into scoring positions, which he failed to do previously.
I’m not anti Le Coq, but some here won’t have a word spoken against him. I’m just saying he still has things to learn (as indeed do most of the team) and needs to cut out silly mistakes.
Öskar
Oskar, I really hope you are better than that. I think telling Arsenal fans to “get real” because they don’t agree with you, was quite rude and unnecessary.
Additionally, because people don’t agree with your apparent personal dislike for specific players (Ozil comes to mind), that doesn’t make said players, everybody’s favourite players.
Dr. F @107 – spot on as usual Sir.
I must admit that I’m not convinced with Coquelin. His recent performances for me highlight just how much we miss a player of real quality in that holding role. He went to Charlton on loan simply because he could not find a new club in the summer. I would suggest that he would still be on loan if Arteta and Jack had stayed fit.
I would love to see him develop into a top player but for me the jury is still well and truly out.
That ‘Lol’ was directed at Dr F’s #107.
You are right, Trev, I’m overstepping. But I got jumped on by some who seem to believe Le Coq can do no wrong and my defence was a bit vigorous. I also found criticism of Kane absurd. Of course he deserves ridicule simply cos he’s a spud, but his goal-scoring deserves some credit.
Öskar
OTD – Coq is watching the ball curl in toward far post and steps out to head the ball away. Unfortunately Ospina gets a hand on the ball and pushes it past Coq toward Kane, who has left Rambo, and it is too late for Coq to recover.
I suppose Coq and Ospina could be blamed for not communicating, but Rambo really should have stayed with Kane.
It seems we concede quite a few goals in this manner (the defender not moving with the runner). I wonder if this is byproduct of zonal defending.
As for Gabriel, we all want to see what he’s got and the Leicester game would be ideal to see it. Not necessarily as a direct sub for Coquelin, maybe just as one of three CDs, or subbing Per, or as a sweeper. Against Leicester it shouldn’t really matter who plays where.
Öskar
OTD
Three CBs at home against Leicester. Please!
After Saturday Coquelin , Ospina and Monreal would be the first names on my team sheet .the team doesn’t need freshening its played once a week since Jan 1 lost once. I think Trev called it right on where there might be change. Ramsey really is playing poorly and Rosicky deserves a shot.
Agreed with TTG as it relates to Ramsey. I think he has been trying hard, but our squad is now compact and competitive and I think we should now allow everybody to earn their spot based on their last performance. In saying that, Ramsey has been poor for the most part, while Rosicky is in great form and thus, should be given a chance in the box to box role.
Gone are the days where we allow people to play until they get into form. We have squad depth now, thus, nobody should be immune. If Tomas is in better form than Aaron, which I think is the case, then he should start against Leicester. Aaron should wait on the bench like Woj is currently doing, until he gets another chance. It’s all about competition, competition, competition!!
I got jumped on by some who seem to believe Le Coq can do no wrong
He can do plenty wrong but he didn’t do that much wrong for that goal, nor in the game. From that range, Kane would have scored with just about any effort on target, man on the post or not.
The fault on that goal was Ramsey’s, the second goal was down to terrible centre back play by Koscielny but we lost the match because we were poor as a team.
We were appalling going forward, weak in midfield and conceded two bad goals largely down to individuals, but you could pick holes in both and blame others if you wish to.
Given that City, Utd and Liverpool all dropped points this weekend makes it even more disappointing that we didn’t take the opportunity to put the Spuds even further in our shadow. Perhaps even more disappointing than the defeat itself was the manner of our loss.
A number of posters have noted that the Spuds were more up for it and I agree with that sentiment. The unanswered question is why?
For all that this game means to Gooners everywhere, how can this team so obviously not mirror that level of excitement and expectation? If they can’t get up for a North London derby and allow themselves to be bossed by what is really a pretty average Spurs team then what is holding them back?
The odd player missing or the odd individual mistake I can understand but the complete absence of passion is more mystifying and of much more concern. In my opinion this team still lacks a real leader, not in terms of ability but rather someone with an absolute, overwhelming desire to win. McLintock, Adams, Vieira.
Whoever we buy in the Summer, we need a leader because this current team still does not have one.
UTA.
In case you have missed.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31262492
[West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says Manchester United resorted to “thump it forward and see” tactics to salvage a point at Upton Park.
United trailed to Cheikhou Kouyate’s sublime volley before Daley Blind levelled in the 93rd minute.
“In the end we couldn’t cope with the long balls Manchester Untied kept putting in the box,” said Allardyce.
“It was just, thump it forward and see what they could get, and in the end it paid off for them.”]
Ironic and all that, but there is nothing not to like when someone speaks some plain truth about ManU and their Dutch genius.
It would be a shame to see Rambo dropped, especially against a team that might allow him to find his best form. He’s not the Rambo we came to love last season yet, but I don’t think he’s as far off as some here seem to think. For mine Rambo is a key player in the side and we need to be patient with him. Confidence is what he’s lacking most, imo.
Öskar
So what of the noisy neighbors?…aren’t they still playing on Thursday night?
BMBD
Our main problem in the game was our formation and tactics. The reason why that dumb formation worked against City was because they were way out of form and we were having Alexis in the squad. We played a counter attack formation with Welbeck and Ozil on the wings, thats absurd.It would have been Walcott and Welbeck.
Another silent problem with us is the insistence to play Ozil, Ramsey and Wilshere once they are fit, form or no form. The team did well in their absence, why cant we stick with the first Eleven that reawaken our season and integrate those Wenger favourites into the team gradually?
Coquelin makes mistakes. We all do, but he made no error for the Spud first goal.
Standing at the back post, he took a pace forward to clear the corner ball as it swung across the goal but it was tipped over his head by Ospina. He took a pace back while Kane moved past a static Ramsey to fire it past Coquelin into the net.
Oskar, you need a bigger plasma television and new specs, pal. 🙂
Naija – I don’t think Wilshere will walk back into this side unless we have a serious drop in form for a couple or three games, or more injuries.
*Pops in to read report – we have to take the bad times with the good – then gets out again sharpish*
Roll on tomorrow…
Kane was an ugly muppet, whatever shirt he was wearing:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2944794/Tottenham-hero-Harry-Kane-pictured-celebrating-Arsenal-s-Invincibles-Premier-League-title-win-10-year-old-2004.html
We were poor, no two words about it. Tactically i was not even sure what we were trying to do for even after a lead sitting back and allowing spurs to dominate the midfield is fairly nonsensical.
Santi ramsey and even Ozil had poor games. Every time it is easy to blame the defense but it is the midfield who need to shield them by protecting the ball. Sadly we couldnt string 3 passes together in the whole game bar the goal, which was fortuitous for Giroud was definitely not trying a pass there.
What comes down to the fact was spurs wanted it more, we did not.
I am flabbergasted that Mertesacker has come out and said we were not fully into the game. I mean what can be bigger than this game? It is plain ridiculous that anyone can even say that.
Arsenal are in real danger this season, i am not saying it in panic but more so in reality. We just havent jelled as a team and we do not know who is our best 11 in which position. With just 14 games to go, this should not have been a worry but a luxury.Sadly it is the other way round.
Great piece ‘holic.
Not our finest hour, I don’t like losing at any time, but to that lot makes it even more unberable, worst thing is, we beat ourselves.
Luckily tomorrow we have the chance to make (A bit) amends.
They have their moment in the sun, I hope for their sakes they have the factor 1000 out, because even the meek winter sun must feel like red hot coals due to all the time they have been dwelling in our shadow.
Normal service shall soon be resumed.
Evening all, some great comments earlier, you’re not a bad bunch!!
Dave.
That’s because losing teaches you valuable life lessons and makes you gracefully humble. Unless you are a Spud, that is. 😉
LOL @ baby Kane. “Childhood Spurs fan” eh?
Some thoughts on our central midfield situation.
Ramsey’s form isn’t great at the moment, and needs to improve. I’ll defer to the boss’s judgment in terms of when it’s time to sit him down – sometimes the only thing is to let a player play himself into form. Ramey is helped by the fact that even when he doesn’t have his best stuff, he’s still going to cover a ton of ground, pressure people, show for the ball etc. Work rate is so important in that area of the pitch.
Arsenal are in an interesting situation in midfield, in that our two first choice “box to box” midfielders, Rambo and Jack, are both terribly inconsistent. On their day, they can both be world-class, but unfortunately they also spend a fair amount of time being mediocre. Their injury-proneness of course doesn’t help.
It’ll be interesting to see over the next year or so how much of a chance the Ox is given in that position. Will depend largely on Ramsey and Jack’s form and fitness I’m sure, but I’d love to see the Ox given a chance. He has everything it takes IMO – the technical quality, the vision, physical strength, work rate, attitude. He’s also got that x-factor – his speed and his driving runs.
He’s one hell of a player and I’m very glad he plays for us.
Leicester preview. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>